The Challenge of Fleur

Chapters

Artist & Concept
Structure & Form
Shade & Color
Texture & Detail
Tapestry & Review

Artist & Concept

Fancy Pants had traveled down this Canterlot road many times. He knew it so well he could walk the entire route in his sleep. In fact he did. Once. Long ago. But this time? Everything was different.

Thick fog rolled across the cobblestones, limiting his vision. It responded to a wind he couldn’t feel, swaying before him in tiny swirls. There was a slight chill that made him shiver, even though it should have been warm that night. Moisture had formed on the stones and dampened the fur around his hooves, and there was even moss growing in places throughout the road. The buildings to either side were invisible, the only sign of their presence the dim glow of lights that could just barely pierce the mist.

This wasn’t Canterlot weather, regardless of the time of year.

Even so, Fancy wasn’t worried. He still knew his way around, and was well aware of the cause. He continued his walk, the sound of his hooves seeming loud in the isolating fog. He recalled from memory precisely when he should turn, and a few seconds later the cobblestones shifted to cool, clean grass.

The fog thinned almost immediately, and he found himself before a tall, imposing mansion. It wasn’t the home he was used to, though; white walls turned to grey stone, towers made taller and thinner, magnificent oaks transformed into hulking, swaying willows. The entire building seemed to loom over him, like a great behemoth guarding its lair. The windows shined in the darkness, like menacing eyes that dared him to approach.

And he did, unafraid and confident, for Fancy knew the game, even if he’d never played it. His old friend would have to try much, much harder if she was going to frighten him.

He had come to the event early; the front door was closed. He pulled the rope, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the loud gong reverberate through the air. Well, she was certainly giving it her all, wasn’t she? He wondered how hard it had been to replace the old chime.

A moment or two of patient waiting, and the door creaked open. A unicorn stallion who looked to be a little older than Fancy appeared, with a dappled brown coat and black mane. He wore a black and red vest that Fancy thought looked appropriate on him. “Ah,” the stallion said with a grin, “Mr. Fancy Pants. You’re early.”

Fancy tilted his head. “Do I know you, sir?”

“Ah, no.” The stallion bowed with a flourish. “Forgive me, I should introduce myself. I am Fine Crime, a friend of Fleur’s and her… Let’s say ‘creative advisor’. Do come in, I’m sure she’d be pleased to see you.”

Fancy entered the mansion, its marble floors and brilliant walls replaced with black wooden flooring and gloomy paneling. He noted that the crystal chandelier had been replaced with black iron, the candles flickering in the unusual darkness. “She’s really into the spirit of things, I see.”

“You’d know better than me,” Fine admitted, closing the door and heading into the main hall. “Oh, Fleur! You have a visitor.”

“Fancy!” Fleur de Lis met him at the entrance, giving him a tight hug that lasted several seconds. “I am so pleased you could make it this year!”

Fancy had to take a moment to recover; he’d never seen Fleur look so odd! She wore a thick, conservative black dress riddled with cobwebs and red highlights. She even had what appeared to be live spiders crawling about her! Her mane, normally pink, was now a deep black, and her eyes had been tinted a glowing, dark red. She even had a pair of fangs!

“My goodness,” he said, eyes roaming up and down her strange attire. “You really do get in the mood! And you still manage to make me look underdressed.”

She giggled as they walked to the center of the dark hall, stopping before the great central staircase with its red carpet. “This isn’t a party, but the Mistress of the Nightmare must look her part! I hope you’re ready to be frightened.”

He smirked. “I went through quite a bit as a soldier, my dear. Scaring this stallion won’t be easy.”

Fine, who was lazing on the staircase with hooves behind his head, asked, “Then why have you avoided coming over the past three years?”

“Because I thought it was pointless,” Fancy declared, head held high. “Fleur can devote her energies to trying to scare ponies with less backbone. But—” he shot a smile Fleur's way, “—you were so insistent this year. I hope you don’t disappoint after all that gloating.”

Fleur returned his smile, a wicked glint in her eyes. “We have been friends since my foalhood, Fancy. I would like to think I know what buttons to push.”

Fancy gave a huff and a smirk, then turned his attention to Fine. “And how do you know her, sir?”

Fine offered a mischievous grin. “Why, we share similar hobbies! Fleur doesn’t practice the art of frightening much as I do, though, so she asked me to be an adviser for the night’s events. No worries; I’m not out to steal your mare from you.”

The joke was clearly meant to embarrass him. Fancy frowned and did something he would never do in public; he rolled his eyes. “You’ll have to try better than that.”

“Hmm…” Fine sat up and leaned towards Fancy, studying him with an expressionless face. After a few seconds, he nodded and said, “You’re right, Fleur; he’ll be a challenge. You’ll be in for a surprise, then, because I know exactly who I want you partnered up with.”

“Partnered up?” Fancy shot a frown at Fleur.

“Everypony will need a partner to participate,” she explained with a twisted smile. “We’ve somepony special in mind for you.”

Spotting the mansion from the skies above Canterlot was an easy feat; just look for the fog. Luna circled the dark residence, her lips set in a tight frown. Should she do this? Celestia had suggested she give it a try, but she had her doubts. After all, she was the Princess of the Night; she’d waded through more nightmares than anypony living in this age. Whatever Fleur, master illusionist, had planned for her would certainly fall short.

“A chance to show off,” Celestia had said. “Might be fun,” she’d claimed. Luna had doubts about that, too.

She flew a few more circles, brooding over the pros and cons of this little ‘adventure’. Finally, wondering why she was even bothering, Luna descended, dropping at a leisurely pace to land softly in the grass. The fog wasn’t so thick in the yard, which was good; landing might have been more difficult, otherwise. Perhaps Fleur had planned for that? Well, she did have some common sense.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.”

She looked up, surprised to see Fine Crime waiting at the open door. She walked to him at a patient, regal pace as she considered his presence. “I had not expected you here. Is Fleur not meant to be off for the week?”

He waved a dismissive hoof. “I always give her a couple weeks off right around Nightmare Night. It’s one of the few times she can let loose with her magic for the sake of fun.”

She paused at the doorway, tilting her head with a raised eyebrow. “And your presence?”

“I’m her advisor,” he replied with a grin. “Who better to figure out a pony’s fears than a former Bloodmane?”

She leaned her head back in a confident pose. “You’ll not find me an easy victim.”

“We’ll see about that,” he answered with a smirk as they entered the mansion side-by-side. The doors came to a creaking close behind them. “You’re the last to show. I’m glad you did; we really were starting to think you’d not show up.”

“I wasn’t so certain, either,” she admitted, following as he lead her into a gloomy hallway. She eyed the webs in the windows, the rusted chandelier, the grim carvings in the wood. The intention was clear, but Luna was tempted to fake a yawn.

The other guests spotted her and let out gasps. She wasn’t surprised; the invitations were private, and nopony had any reason to expect a Princess to attend. “I’ll go let Fleur know we can begin,” Fine noted, slipping off to a closed door under the central staircase as all the others were bowing.

She took a moment to indulge their attempts at pleasantry, but she was hardly interested in socializing. Instead, she focused on watching their mannerisms. Years of traversing nightmares had taught her how to read fear in others, and these ponies were filled with it. Shifting eyes, anxious laughs, ducked heads, all the tale-tell signs were present. It was almost amusing; they thought this place was scary? They should try one of Fine’s nightmares.

But there was one stallion who was not afraid. Luna recognized Fancy Pants, who bore a smile under his familiar mustache. He approached her after the others had finished their obligatory greetings. No shivering, no anxiety. He clearly had no fear at all of this place, and Luna found herself curiously pleased by this.

“Hello, Princess,” he said. “I would ask you if you were having a good evening so far, but I suspect you are as unimpressed as I am.”

She eyed their surroundings yet again. “Unimpressed. I think that word would be accurate.” She turned her eyes on him, once more noting his calm, pleasant manner. “Have you been to this event, before?”

He shook his head. “Fleur has been trying to convince me to come to her little soiree for many years. I finally accepted, if only because she’s been so insistent.”

“Ah.” Luna looked up to the top of the stairs, wondering when Fleur might arrive. “You are old friends?”

“Since her foalhood,” he acknowledged with a grin. “I do hope she-“

“Good evening, everypony.” Fleur’s theatrical, pleasantly soft voice echoed through the hall. All eyes turned to the top of the stairs as a cloud of smoke slowly formed there. Bats flew from the dark clouds, eliciting a cry from one of the more jumpy guests. A moment later the smoke dissipated, and there stood Fleur, elegant and beautiful and – yes, Luna had to admit – regal. “I, Fleur de Lis, welcome you all to this year’s opening night of my delightful Week of Nightmares.”

The mage turned her head towards Luna with a pleased smile. “I am delighted to welcome you, Princess of the Night, to this evening’s proceedings. You honor us with your presence.” Luna accepted the praise and polite applause with a stately smile, though she wished Fleur would simply get on with things.

But first, a speech. Fleur began: “Every year, ponies celebrate Nightmare Night, making light of their fears. Few recall that this holiday began as an ancient ritual, where ponies allowed their nightmares to come true. It was thought that by experiencing that which frightens us, we might be best prepared to brave the darkness. At the very least, our nightly tormentors might be satiated, and let us be for another year.

“Tonight I, your devoted host, shall help you re-enact that ritual. Can you brave the darkness? Will you stand firm before the fiends and demons of Tartarus?” Fleur lifted her head high, and her horn began to shine. “Let your bravery be tested! May your fears be faced! And remember, the things you shall see are only as real as you believe them to be. This is my only advise to you brave souls. And now…we begin.”

Already? Luna had expected something more dramatic.

Luna blinked, her entire world having abruptly gone dark. Not dim, not shaded, dark. She could feel neither hot or cold, could hear no sound, could see no object. Everything was pure, perfect black.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this.” She turned her hawkish gaze towards the voice, mildly surprised to find Fancy Pants still standing at her side. He cast his gaze about the darkness, a hoof to his chin and eyes questioning.

“It would seem we have already begun,” she stated while peering into the darkness. “Your friend wastes little time with theatrics.”

“It’s not like her, not at all,” he said.

Luna noticed him eyeing her mane, but ignored it. “This is hardly a good start for a pony who wishes to frighten,” she remarked with a grimace. “I do hope she does not anticipate me being afraid of the dark.”

“Or me,” he replied with a chuckle. “So… We are to be partners in this little charade, hmm?”

She took a moment to look him over with an inquisitive eye before responding. “I suppose we are.” That was not a bad thing; at least she knew who Fancy was, if only by reputation and one or two chance encounters at her sister’s pointless public events. If she simply had to be here with somepony, she could have been stuck with far worse.

“So,” she said, too late to keep the pause between them from feeling awkward, “you know Fleur well, or so you have suggested.” She gestured with a limp hoof to their surroundings, her tone dull. “I hope you understand what she’s up to?”

He frowned as he cast a look around. “I wish I did. She’s usually quite theatrical, but I’ve never been to this ‘Week of Nightmares’, and this beginning is rather bland for her. A disappointment, really.”

“You were expecting to be scared?”

“I was expecting her to try a little harder,” he corrected with head held high.

Luna liked that response. Really, she did. It revealed – or at least suggested – that he had standards to be met. She approved of ponies with high standards, for they usually applied those standards to themselves. She smiled at his manner as she said, “It pleases me greatly to see that at least somepony among tonight’s guests won’t be fooled so easily by her mere illusions.”

He bowed with a beaming smile. “My Princess, I was a soldier of the Dragon Campaign! It will take a lot more than a few light tricks and fog to frighten me.”

His statement made her pause and study him a bit more closely. She’d noticed his strong appearance, but never would have guessed that Fancy Pants, the most elite of the elite, had been a soldier. It was hard to put together in her mind, to say the least. “The Dragon Campaign. My sister does not like to speak of it…”

“And for good reason, I assure you,” he said with a solemn frown. “If I knew the pony who finally defeated Reddux the Tyrant, why, I’d be obligated to shake his hoof. I lost many a friend to that beast.”

Luna considered this, noting his grim manner. “You are a surprising stallion, Fancy. Please do not take offense when I say that I thought you…‘softer’ than that.”

He laughed, the sound coming so easily it alarmed her. “Cannot blame you for that, my dear! Most ponies of my class do have a reputation for softness. But,” he added with a grin, “there are always exceptions to the rule.”

“So it would seem,” she acknowledged, still questioning his rapid shift from solemnity to pleasure. She made a mental note to check public records and ascertain the accuracy of his claims. She didn’t like the idea that he might be leading her on, but a Princess could never be sure in the presence of elites. After all, the entire class was known for its sycophants, and his story could be little more than an attempt to win her good graces.

He was studying her mane again. She brushed it from her face and pretended not to notice. Was it that strange? What was she saying? She had stars in her hair, of course it was strange. Still, he did not have to stare…

Another awkward silence passed between them. Once more, she lamented it. Looking for something to discuss, she coughed before asking, “Do you at least know the… Hmm, what is the best term for it? The…rules. Yes, that will do. Do you know the rules of this little game?”

He scratched the back of his head, eyes dropping in thought. “Not really,” he confessed. “I suppose we are to simply avoid being frightened. Not that such will be hard, given the circumstances.”

“Agreed,” Luna muttered, sitting in the darkness and wondering just what she was sitting on, being as of how the ‘ground’ did not look any different from anything else. “She had best make some change to this world, and soon. I will be bored of this very quickly.”

He sat as well, maintaining his respectable distance and pawing at the darkness as if trying to understand what the ground was made of. He peered, listened, tapped his hoof soundlessly. “Well, I give her some credit; for such a bland world, at least it is complete. In that we seem entirely immersed in it, that is. I propose we give her a little time, see what happens.”

Luna had to admit, he was right. Fleur’s dark world might be unimaginative, but it was certainly a good showing of her talents. Where they still in the mansion, and just seeing things differently? Had they been rendered unconscious, and set in a dream state? No, Luna would have known if this were a dream. Whatever the case, the illusion was well-made. Perhaps waiting wouldn’t hurt.

Though she hoped they would see something soon.

Author's Note

Finally putting this up! I don't know why it took so friggen long.

Oh wait, yes I do: it's because the computer ate 1/3 of the story! That still frustrates me. It got me so mad I stopped working on it for a week-and-a-half, and when I picked it up again... Well, let's just say the life was gone.

What's the Dragon Campaign? A little something I'm planning for my No Heroes franchise that I thought I would allude to. That's right, this story is set in my No Heroes universe, like most. Still debating on whether it will be canon, though.

More yakking will come later; I've got four more chapters to post and I'm dead tired right now.

Structure & Form

On the outside, Fancy was his usual pleasant, charming self. On the inside, however, he was happier than a foal on Hearth’s Warming Eve. Princess Luna. Of all the ponies he could be trapped in an empty void with, Fleur set him up with Luna! He didn’t know why she did it, and for now he didn’t care. He would simply enjoy this opportunity as best he could.

Luna, on the other hoof, didn’t seem to be enjoying herself at all. She kept shifting, her wings fluffing every now and again as she scoured their surroundings with unpleasant eyes. He wanted to say something to alleviate the boredom, but his mind was blank. It didn’t help that he kept finding himself gazing at her mane. By the Moon, was it pretty.

“Is that meant to be a moon?”

He shook himself, tearing his eyes from the sparkling starscape of her mane to note that she was looking up. He followed suite, but saw nothing. “A moon, Princess?”

“Can you not see it?” she asked, gesturing to the air. “It is strangely flat and lacks illumination. In fact it is but a mere circle… but it reminds me of a moon.”

He peered into the darkness, but could see nothing. “I don’t know what you… Wait.” He saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was a tiny white dot. And another. And another.

A few small dots became a dozen, then several dozen, and still more, spreading out in the air just a few feet above his head. Soon the entire world seemed coated in them, all on the same flat plane, all immobile and dull. Just…flat white dots. “I do not know what makes you think of them as moons,” he noted, rearing back to study one just above their heads. “They seem like mere circles, to me.”

“They?” Luna shot him a frown, her brow furrowed. “There is but one, and it is quite large. How can you miss it?”

“One?” he asked, turning in place to gaze upon the field of white specks. “There must be thousands of them!”

They stared at one another, a quiet moment of understanding passing between them. After a time Luna facehooved with a grimace. “We’re seeing entirely different things.”

“So it would seem,” he acknowledged, scratching the back of his head. As he did he noted more dots appearing, this time at the level of their hooves. “Do you see those?”

The Princess turned her gaze to follow his gesture, and her eyes lit up. “What is this? Dots?”

He blinked at her statement. “So you see them, but not the ones above?”

Her eyes arose, roaming the darkness without focus. “No, just the paper moon.”

Fancy studied the dot just beneath them, which was just small enough to be completely covered by his hoof when stepped on. He felt nothing when he did. It was like glass was between his hoof and the dot. “Clearly Fleur is making changes, but to what purpose?”

Luna raised an eyebrow at what he assumed was the invisible moon overhead, lips set in a deep frown. “I hope she does not assume I am afraid of round shapes, now.”

“You must give her some credit,” he said, earning him a scathing look. “Are we not seeing different things? Correct me if I’m wrong, but under the circumstances that strikes me as an impressive feat of mental manipulation.”

She set a hoof to her chin as she considered this. “Hmm… Yes, it indeed qualifies for a high degree of complexity. The end result may not be fantastic, but to manipulate the minds of two ponies in this way – while she is certainly manipulating others, as well – is certainly a sign of talent. But,” she threw in with a fresh scowl, “her aim was to frighten, not impress. I remain thoroughly disappointed.”

Fancy drooped, his ears tucking down and he studied the spot at his hooves. “Well, yes, that is rather disappointing.” But then a thought came to him, and he looked to her with a tilted head. “I must wonder why Fleur set the two of us together.”

Luna, who seemed to be paying more attention to her invisible moon that his words, replied, “Perhaps it was by chance. Luck of the draw, as they say in these modern times.”

But Fancy shook his head. “I recall. Fleur told me when I arrived that she had ‘somepony in mind for me’.”

That got her attention. She turned to him, brow furrowed as she peered uncertainly at him. “So we were paired intentionally? Now I, too, am curious.”

He pondered this possibility for some time, and could only assume Luna was doing the same. What if Fleur knew… No, that was impossible. He’d been singing the Princess’ praises ever since her return from exile, but he’d always been sure to put those praises in a political or public context. His private praises were… well, private. He certainly had no intention of sharing them.

Luna spoke, her pleasant voice interrupting his thoughts. “Perhaps she views us as the opposition.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Opposition?”

“Opposition,” she repeated with a nod. “Think on it, Fancy. If I understand you correctly, then we are both very doubtful of her ability to frighten us. Perhaps that is why we are together; we present a significant challenge.”

Now that sounded more like the Fleur he knew. Also, it was far less personal than the reasons floating around in his head. “Yes, I think that makes perfect sense,” he declared with a crooked smile, silently thanking her for the very real alternative.

Luna still had that critical frown, though, her eyes going to the many dots all over the ‘ground’. “I do hope she tries to liven things up, and soon. If not, I may be tempted to manually break out of this dreadfully dull illusion she has concocted.”

Luna stared up at the paper moon, feeling not just a little frustrated. Why was Fleur playing this pathetically slow game? Why would she not just come at them with some grotesque monstrosity, if all she really needed was to frighten? If things did not improve soon, she really would force an escape.

“Princess?”

Luna turned her piercing gaze upon Fancy, who was watching the dots beneath them with a tilted head. She followed his gaze and saw that something was indeed developing, though what it meant she could not fathom. In the distance, blocks seemed to be rising up from the various dots. They grew to various heights, and when they stopped she was puzzled to see tall, rectangular shapes burst on top of them.

Arrows? Was that what they were meant to be? As the forest grew up, they soon found themselves surrounded by tall blocks and pyramid heads.

Forest?

Ah, of course. First a paper moon, now paper trees.

“What in Equestria is that mare doing, now?” Fancy asked as he spun about with an unpleasant frown. “Are we to traverse a maze?”

“A maze?” Luna repeated. “What maze? This is a forest.”

“Forest?” He gestured at nothing in particular, casting his frowning gaze her way. “Can you not see the walls?”

She blinked, studied him, then looked about once more. Walls? “I see trees. Scores upon scores of flat, dull paper trees.”

His lips parted in a dumbfounded expression. “What are you saying? Look, right here.” He took a few steps and reared back. To her surprise, when he set his front hooves forward they appeared to fall flat against some obstruction… which she could not see. He pressed against it demonstrably, eyes set to her as if anticipating some affirmation.

“Is she toying with us?” Luna walked to where the ‘wall’ was, walking about to sit in front of Fancy and examine his hooves.

“Wha…?” He dropped back to four hooves, eyes going wide. “P-Princess! How did you...? Where did you go?”

She tilted her head at him, seeing how his eyes were shifting and not quite looking at her. Then it hit; she must have walked through the wall he was seeing. “I am here, Fancy.”

He blinked his recognition, lowering his head as he thought. “This is an impressive trick, I must say.”

Luna grimaced and stood, anger rising within her. “I did not come here for ‘tricks’, Fancy, and my patience is wearing thin. Fleur, I know you can hear me!” She turned about to glare at the dull moon between the paper trees. “You intended to scare us, did you not? I am not frightened, and I have had enough of your games.”

“Now, hold on, Princess,” Fancy called, once again setting his front hooves to his invisible wall. “You must give her a chance! After all, it’s only been-”

Luna turned on him, eyes flaring. “Her tricks might be impressive, but her attempts to frighten are amateurish, at best! I am the guardian of dreams, and this pathetic game is insulting.” She paced until she was back within his sight, just to make her frustration clear. “I have seen the torturous sights nightmares can produce, and she presumes to frighten me with fake trees?” She cast her head back to glare at the moon once more. “This is your last warning, Fleur! Deliver me something truly horrifying, or I will end this game!”

Silence. Brutal, ominous, unpleasant silence.

“Perhaps she cannot hear you,” Fancy offered.

Luna didn’t buy that thought, not at all. “I’m waking us up.” Fancy opened his mouth, reconsidered and closed it. He turned his head away with a frown and stepped back slowly.

She concentrated her horn flashing its dark blue as she attempted to break whatever spell Fleur had set upon her. She reached out, scoured the invisible barriers, sought out the weakness. Somewhere out there must be the key to breaking free from this-

The noise was so loud she thought her eardrums might burst! Luna dropped to her belly and covered her head against the hissing, to no avail. Even with eyes firmly closed, she saw it. A head, faceless and pale as the moon, a high-pitched howling blasting into her ears along with that static cacophony! And then it was gone, just as quickly as it had come. The world was silence, once more.

“What in the name of the Goddess was that?!” Fancy cried.

Luna opened her eyes to find Fancy lying on the ground nearby, covering his head in a similar manner as her. His eyes were wide, his jaw clamped firmly shut, but he was recovering.

Her breath coming in gasps, Luna sat up. Good Goddess, she’d seen it. She’d seen it, and she knew what it was. Was that Fleur’s plan, all along? Had she just unleashed it, the abomination never to be mentioned?!

It was too dangerous. Even for an illusion, it was too dangerous! Fleur knew not what she was toying with…

“Princess, are you alright?”

She looked down to find Fancy staring up at her in concern. By the fear in his eyes, it was clear he’d seen it, too. Should she tell him what it really was?

No. No, he didn’t need to know. It might be just an illusion… “I will be fine, Fancy. It just startled me, that is all.”

He breathed a sigh and smiled in that crooked way she already knew meant he was anxious. “That is good to hear. If anything were to happen to you, why, I don’t know what I’d do!”

His words surprised her. True, she was a princess, but to make such a personal statement? He blushed under her gaze, glancing away, and she shook herself from the momentary reverie. Why was she thinking so much on it? He was commendably loyal, that’s all.

Right now they had more important things to worry about.

Author's Note

Meh, I'll hold my comments till the end.

Shade & Color

“I’m going to try again,” Luna announced, closing her eyes and focusing.

Fancy didn’t want her to. After what had happened last time, he was getting nervous. He didn’t know what that thing was, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Perhaps he was being foolish. Perhaps it had only been a trap set by Fleur to keep them from escaping.

Besides, he’d just said something that had too strongly hinted at his personal…interests. He wasn’t about to open his mouth again.

Luna’s horn was growing brighter, her face contorted in a grimace. Clearly Fleur’s magic was stronger than she’d anticipated. Fancy braced himself, just knowing that at any mome-

The high-pitched howling hit his ears again! This time there was real pain at its unearthly tone. Fancy closed his eyes, muscles tightening as he fought to maintain his stance. He would not fall again! And that faceless head that seemed to be staring from within his mind… Why did it make him feel so alone? Fear was creeping into him, combining with the pain and noise and imagery. He didn’t know what this was, but he hated it!

It was gone. He let out a gasp and opened his eyes to find the Princess climbing to her hooves, eyes wide and livid. She was saying something, but his ears were still ringing, and he couldn’t make out her words. He could only watch as she spoke soundlessly, venting her frustration in a manner he assumed was not fit for royalty.

By the time the ringing came to an end, so had her rant. She sat on the black ground, seething and glaring up at what he assumed was her paper moon. He barely noted that she now had a shadow, or the dark fog that now seemed to encompass the plain, uninteresting halls. He was interested in her, and her obvious anger.

“Princess,” he ventured, taking a cautious step closer, “do not let it trouble you. I am sure Fleur-”

“Do not speak of that witch to me,” Luna hissed, turning her head away from him.

Witch? Fancy frowned, a spark of anger igniting within. Fleur had been called many things, but this was the first time he’d heard her spoken of in such a manner, and he didn’t like it. “Pardon my boldness,” he replied with a strained attempt at civility, “but are you blaming her for us being here?”

“What kind of question is that?” Luna demanded, turning to him with a sneer. “Who else is there to blame? This is not frightening, it’s not interesting. It’s a waste of my time!”

Fancy impressed himself by not being intimidated. “Then why did you come?”

“I did not want to,” she announced, standing and pacing. “I told myself not to accept the invitation, but I did it, anyway. Perhaps it was curiosity. Perhaps I just wanted to end my sister’s endless encouragements. But I did come, and now I’m stuck in this pointless world with an elitist when I should be out on nightmare duty, or at least preparing for Nightmare Night!”

Fancy bristled at her words, watching as she walked through a wall and beyond his vision. “It is not Fleur’s fault you are here. Do not blame her for your decision! Joining us tonight was optional, as you know.”

Her head appeared through the wall, eyes piercing. “Of course you would take her side in the matter. She should have been better prepared!”

“Or perhaps you should be a bit more patient,” Fancy offered with head held high. “Do not try to pin your mistake upon others. It is not becoming of a princess.”

Luna’s eyes went wide, her jaw clenching as she stared at him. “Y-you… How dare you!” She stepped forward, out of the wall, and loomed tall over him. “You presume to lecture me on proper behavior? You forget your place! Mayhap you are ‘the most important pony in Canterlot,’ but you are still naught but a subject!”

“And you are not the ideal princess and ruler I’ve been touting for the past few years,” he countered. “I never knew you to be so hotheaded. Truly, the sun and the moon really are entirely different.”

They glared at one another for several seconds, neither willing to speak any further. Fancy couldn’t deny that he was a little intimidated by her looming presence, but if she could speak her mind, then so could he. They were alone and this was a private conversation, so he didn’t care at all about her rank! But even so… Those eyes were just a little too harsh…

To his relief, she finally turned away. He resisted letting out a sigh and focused on hearing her response, for it was clear she was preparing one. She stared straight ahead, lips pursed in a deep frown and eyes like daggers. “I should leave you to go through this boredom by yourself,” she muttered, “but that is not acceptable.” Her eye locked onto him, making him tense at the anger it revealed. “If I did not have my…suspicions…you would be on your own, Fancy.”

He appreciated that; if there was anything he didn’t want to be, it was alone. After all, he always felt alone. But he wasn’t about to reveal that bit of weakness, not after he’d so successfully stood up to her.

The silence lingered between them. He glanced around at the pale walls, studying how his shadows played on them. He shifted, coughed, glanced over. She was making a clear effort not to look at him.

This quiet couldn’t last. “So,” he said, “now what? Will you attempt another escape?”

She sighed and waved a hoof, the fog swirling about at the motion. “I shall wait, and see where this goes. It may be better for Fleur’s health.”

Luna fought her anger down by taking slow, steadying breaths. She tried to look at the moon for comfort. It didn’t appear so fake as before; it had a sense of depth to it. But it was still not real. It looked more like the prop for some stage play, and provided no relaxation. Indeed, it only enhanced her frustration.

So instead, she turned her eyes upon Fancy. He was lying on his belly, eyes set to his hooves. He was clearly avoiding looking at her. She was frustrated with him, too, and yet she begrudgingly had to give him credit for defending his friend. It was a decidedly noble characteristic.

And she’d taken offense. She turned away from him, grimacing as she thought on her conduct and staring deep into the dark fog. She would not apologize, even if she knew he’d been right. She would simply have to admire him in silence, much in the way he seemed to admire her.

Oh yes, she hadn’t missed it. Touting her name, was he? She would have to look into that claim; her nocturnal methods made it a little difficult to keep up with public perception, and she had the most difficulty with Canterlot ponies. She simply could not identify with them. Nobility in this modern Equestria was nothing like it had been back before her exile.

She raised her head as she noted the hissing. It was faint, so much so that she wondered if she wasn’t imagining it. She glanced back at Fancy and saw him looking about with sharp eyes, his ears perked. No, she wasn’t imagining it.

She caught his eye through the fog, prompting him to ask, “Perhaps it is another trick of Fleur’s?”

Luna could not be certain. After what she had seen… It was too risky to take any chances. “We must move.”

“Move?” he repeated, climbing to his hooves. “Why?”

Once again, she considered telling the truth, and once again, she decided against it. “Just come with me.” She began to walk through the woods, the thickening clouds drifting about her body like smoke. After a few steps, however, she realized she was alone. “Are you not coming?” she asked, turning to face him.

Fancy was standing in place, eyes shifting in the fog. “I cannot follow. You’re going through walls, Princess.”

Luna groaned and rubbed her forehead in frustration; of course, she’d forgotten. Now what? She didn’t want to linger in this fog, it made her anxious, and that hissing sound wouldn’t quiet down. If that thing was around, she had no intention of running into it, then she didn’t dare lave Fancy on his own…

“L-Luna!” She blinked, her attention going back to Fancy. “Come back!” He began to pace the invisible wall between them, eyes wide with fear. “Don’t leave me behind.”

Why was he so frightened? “I am still here, Fancy,” she claimed, walking forward until she was standing at his side.

He jerked away, but then let out a deep sigh. “Thank Goddess. Please, don’t worry me like that.”

She leaned forward to eye him. “Are you… Afraid?”

His eyes widened, yet he recovered quickly. “But of course not!” He raised his head high with a grin. “A little fog and a few drab walls aren’t enough to frighten me, my lady.”

Luna wasn’t fooled, but she also wasn’t about to press him. That incessant hissing noise reminded her that there were more interesting matters at hoof. “Lead the way, and I will follow. This way you will not lose me.”

He nodded and began to walk. She kept close behind, watching as he weaved a seemingly random path among the trees. She had wondered about his claims of seeing walls, but only now was she able to fully believe him on the matter. Seeking something to distract from that horrid hissing sound, she studied the fake trees… And realized that they weren’t plain white and green, anymore. The tall trunks, which now had a sense of curvature to them, were gaining a steady brownish shade, and the triangular ‘leaves’ were starting to form distinct colorations.

The world was developing, slowly but certainly. Even the ground, she noted, was beginning to take on a unique coloration of dark browns and greens. Fleur was working on the world, gradually and clearly… But to what end?

Fancy paused to rub his ears with a frustrated grimace. “I say, what is that wretched hissing?”

His words jerked Luna back into the situation at hoof. She forced a smile to her lips and tried to keep her voice steady. “It’s…probably a flaw in Fleur’s spell, that’s all.” But the noise was definitely getting louder.

Fancy resumed his walking, head low. From behind, he had the peculiar look of a capsized ship floating through the fog’s smoky whisps. Was it her imagination, or was the fog getting thicker? He spoke, voice quiet and dripping with aggravation. “Where are we even going? I have had just about enough of this place…”

The noise was clearly having an effect on his morale. Luna couldn’t blame him; it was making her anxious, too. “As long as we keep moving,” she told him, trying to add some cheer into her voice. “It is better than merely waiting for Fleur to give up, isn’t it?”

“If I didn’t know any better,” he ventured, “I’d say this place is getting to you, too.”

She frowned and eyed the forest. Her ears drooped as the hissing grew louder. “It is hard to keep one’s patience with that abominable noise.”

Fancy sat, the fog roiling away from him. “I’ll not argue that sentiment. Fleur, if you do not shut that infernal hissing off…!”

Luna nudged his shoulder. “Now, now. If anypony is meant to be upset with her, it is me.”

Author's Note

Doop-dee-doo, nothing to see here.

Texture & Detail

Fancy smiled at Luna, despite his growing frustration. She was trying to be encouraging, and he appreciated it. He rubbed his ear once more, that infernal hissing noise growing steadily louder. “I think it would be appropriate if we both went after her, this time,” he claimed.

He glanced around at the dismal hallway, noting how the lights above kept the walls and floor and fog in a constant state of shadow. The only real light came from Luna’s mane, the sparkling stars within keeping the gloom away from her face. The urge to stare was irresistible; her pretty face seemed almost like a beacon in the gloom.

The Princess tilted her head at him. “Are you alright?”

Fancy blinked and shook his head; what was he doing, ogling the Princess? “I’m fine,” he muttered, turning away. He began to walk through the dim halls, glad the darkness was hiding his blush. By the Moon, could he possibly have been more obvious?

He paused, noting how the hissing noise had grown even louder. It seemed so much more…intense. It was almost threatening in its volume. He wasn’t one to be frightened of a little noise, but he couldn’t deny the anxiety filling him. He closed his eyes, rubbed his ears with a sneer, opened them again.

That was when he noticed. The fog was no longer just drifting. It was moving, flowing before him like a veritable river of smoke. He glanced around, then looked back at Luna. She was observing the cloud, too, thick waves of the stuff drifting swiftly around and between her tall legs. Had it been water, they would surely have been knocked over by the current! Yet there was no…

He winced at the sudden emergence of wind, which struck him so hard he nearly fell to his haunches. “W-what is this?!” he shouted over the hissing and blowing in his ears.

“I do not know,” Luna admitted, her mane billowing about her face, “but I would prefer it stopped right now!”

Fancy took a step back, fighting not to lose his balance against the buffeting wind. He felt it change direction as he did, and noted that the fog was roiling into a side hallway. He glanced that way, the merest passing look, but did a double take; the fog was gathering at a spot a few feet within. He stared with wide eyes as the great cloud that was forming seemed to grow more dense. It filled up the entire hallway, a chaotic mess of smoke and wind.

“Fancy, we must find a way out of this wind,” Luna told him, abruptly appearing before him. He gazed up at her glorious face, and saw that she’d not noticed the great cloud.

The wind died. As quickly as it had come, it was gone. They looked about them, Fancy noting how the fog was all gone. No, not gone. It was-

The howling hit their ears with such volume that they both collapsed to their knees and covered their ears! But it was more than just noise; Fancy felt a very real fear in his mind, as if something had tapped into his brain and opened his reception to horror! Was it the noise? The frustration? The anger? He didn’t know why he was afraid, he just knew that he was.

He struggled to raise his head, had to fight to open his eyes. He at last was able to look out over Luna. Why it scared him, he couldn’t imagine, but somehow he knew that the cloud was the source. It churned, it spread, it steadily moved towards them. And just within the confines of the fog, he thought he could see something. It had no distinct shape, but it was tall and thin.

He couldn’t help thinking that it was looking right at them.

“Luna!” Somehow, despite his fear and the cacophonous noise that seemed to paralyze, he found himself literally leaping over her to confront the thing. He dropped to an aggressive pose, heart pounding in his chest as the thing crept closer. “Luna, go! I will stop it!”

“S-stop it?” Luna called over the noise from behind him. “St-stop… Oh… Oh no…”

“Go!” He pawed the soft, molding floor, his horn flashing as a few whispy tendrils began to drift towards them. “You will not have my Princess, you fiend!”

The hissing and howling seemed to intensify. His head was pounding from the volume of it! What he thought was a head shifted forward in the fog, and Fancy felt such revulsion from the mere presence of this…this…thing! But he stood his ground, he stared it down. He would not retreat, even as those smoky tendrils…

“NO!” Fancy found himself flying through the hallway, Luna carrying him by the shoulders as she flew away from the creature.

“H-hey!” He sucked in a deep breath as they rocketed past open doors and dim lights. “L-Luna, stop! You can’t see the… wall… wall… Luna, wall!”

He braced himself, bringing his hooves before his face and curling up just in time to smack the wall. He dropped to the floor, all four legs aching from the impact. He let out a long, low moan and tested himself by climbing to his hooves. He was a bit woozy, but nothing seemed to be broken… “Next time, I get the forest…”

He looked at the wall, waited. Luna did not answer. He frowned, sat, waited a bit more. Still, there was nothing. “Luna?”

Fancy glanced around at the gloomy, quiet halls. Nothing. There was nopony. He was alone. “L…Luna, are you there?”

By the Goddess, had she even noticed that she’d dropped him? Surely the thing hadn’t frightened her that much, even if it had been terrifying. Not that it hadn’t scared him. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was alone.

Fancy hated being alone.

Luna had been flying so fast that when Fancy hit the wall she was jerked into a flip, smacking her back against the ground. It had knocked the air from her lungs, so all she could do was lay there and gasp. But her mind was focused on one thing; they had to get away. Her eyes shifted beyond Fancy, barely noticing his agitation as she scanned the forest for any signs of the fog.

Nothing. They were safe, for the time being.

But she was still in a state of alarm. Fleur was using that, of all things! It was an abomination, never to be spoken of, never to be thought of, and certainly never to be used! She had read Fine Crime’s reports, she knew what it was capable of. No, that was incorrect; she had no idea. Nopony did. That was why it scared her; what if it wasn’t part of Fleur’s plan?

What if it was the real thing?

There was no way to know, because it was beyond comprehension. She had to treat it as real, as lethal. Anything less could be suicide.

Her breath was back to normal. She turned onto her stomach, disturbing leaves that now looked very real. The moon shined down upon her through the snaking branches, no longer false, but round and detailed and curiously ominous. Fleur’s world had become akin to reality…but wasn’t quite there. There was something off about everything, like the edges weren’t quite crisp enough. Luna felt more like she was in a dream than in the real world. Still, the illusion was near-perfect.

“Don’t leave me alone…”

Luna blinked, realizing she’d forgotten Fancy. She looked down and was surprised to see him lying on his belly in the grass, chin set to the floor as he stared unseeing. From his deep frown to his slumped shoulders, his sorrow was blatant. “I hate being alone…”

Sympathy swelled within the Princess at the sight of the stallion. This was twice now that he’d fretted over isolation, and Luna was not one to miss such cues. She glanced about, just to make sure there was no fog in the vicinity, before approaching. “Fancy.”

His head jerked up with a smile so full of relief and joy it made her pause. “P-Princess?”

She shook off her momentary surprise and stood over him. His eyes lit up as they locked upon her face. “I am here. I apologize for the-”

He wrapped his hooves about her neck, the sudden motion rendering her speechless. “I thought you’d left me,” he admitted, voice thick with emotion. “Please, don’t do that to me!”

She pushed him back gently, blushing from a level of physical contact she was in no way accustomed to. “Fancy… Why…” She paused to consider her words. “Why does the idea of being along disturb you so?”

His pleasure faded to uncertainty as he studied her, a frown set to his lips. After a time, he turned away in shame. “If any other pony were to ask that, I’d have dismissed the question,” he confessed, voice quiet. “I am always alone, Princess.”

She blinked. “You? Fancy Pants, the most prestigious pony in Canterlot? You are always surrounded by-”

“Sycophants,” he interrupted, a grimace coming to his face. “Yes-mares and freeloaders, all trying to ride my coattails to the top of the pile.” He shook his head, a disgusted sneer on his lips. “When I first entered high-society, I had real friends. The ones who made me what I am. Some passed on, other moved away. Fleur aside, none remain in Canterlot. I’m not just a flashing billboard on the road to success! I fought in the Dragon War, I lost friends, I sacrificed to become what I am!

“Nopony appreciates me, anymore,” he concluded with head bowed. “I’m no longer a veteran; I’m an elite.” He spat the word as if it were poison. “There was a time when I longed to be called that. Now I find myself wishing I was back in the barracks, among the ponies who understand what it is to sweat and toil and suffer for something greater than themselves. I maintain the image, I go through the motions, I do my part. But when it comes down to it, I am alone in a sea of self-righteous, cowardly parasites.”

Luna only stared. This was Fancy Pants? The greatest of that worthless, unproductive class? She was…stunned.

“But now there’s you,” he said, turning to give her a focused look. “You give me hope.”

She leaned back, not at all certain how to take that statement. “I do?”

He nodded. “I’ve been watching. When you returned from exile, you were reviled. Yet you have forged a place among us, despite everything. I see you standing up to the criticisms, going your own way, rejecting the established order! You do not cater to the whims of others, and in the past few years the elites have been forced to accept you, to appreciate you, because you demand nothing less.

“I see you, and I wish I was more like you,” he confessed. “I admire you. Perhaps if I was more dynamic, I could get them to appreciate more than my status. Perhaps I could find some real companions…” His head bowed, ears tucking down as he turned away. “Companions who actually care.”

Luna was touched. To think that she could affect somepony she hardly knew just by being herself! She was speechless, and could only gaze at him through the whisps of fog and try to comprehend the possibility. She’d not felt so important to any one pony in over a thousand years.

She’d forgotten what that was like. It felt good. She found herself smiling, and even blushing a little. She opened her mouth to respond-

The howling hit them, and her blood ran cold.

Author's Note

Just one more...

Tapestry & Review

Fancy spun around, taking up an aggressive stance. Dark fog filled the hallway, but the cloud was no longer so massive. No, it was much smaller, more defined. It was compressing into a distinct shape.

Into a pony.

A white head formed, a trio of smokey black tails squirmed into existence. As Fancy watched, fear twisting his heart, the fog faded, and the pony, taller than he knew was possible, faceless and dressed in a black suit and red tie, was standing before him. That was all it was. A pony.

But the unexplainable terror that filled Fancy’s mind could come from no other source.

“L-Luna…” he whispered, pawing at the moldy floor threateningly, “what is that thing?”

Her head, peering through the wall like a phantom, dropped down next to his. Her voice was focused, but worried. “An abomination. Do not fight it, Fancy.”

He let out a snarl, horn flashing. “T-this is a dream! Fleur’s trying to frighten us, remember? It c-can’t…”

The thing’s head rose, the howling intensified. Fancy cringed, but didn’t back down.

Luna pleaded. “Fancy, run away. It may be real.”

He shot her an alarmed look, which she returned with wide eyes. When they looked again, the thing was gone…but the noise was so loud it almost hurt. Fancy could sense its presence-

“Go!” Luna shoved him, and they were fleeing. Fancy didn’t know where they were fleeing to, or why his legs started pounding the wooden floor, but they reacted without any pressing on his part. He bolted, Luna flying not far ahead with wings flapping wraith-like through the walls.

The sound quieted, then grew stronger. Fancy glanced to his side and saw the thing watching from a doorway. A smoky tentacle swam out to grasp at him. It was far too slow, but it still made his heart skip a beat. “L-Luna, why do we not fight?!”

“We can’t!” She shouted, disappearing through a wall. “It follows an entirely different set of rules!”

“What are youHELL!” He nearly fell in his hurry to turn, just spotting the thing staring from around the corner ahead. He dove through a doorway, flew through a large room. He spotted the thing out of the corner of his eye, closer, taller, menacing in its howling presence. He entered a new hallway, smacking the wall as he struggled to make the turn.

“Luna!” The sound of his hoofsteps pounded in his ears. “Luna, where are you?!”

“Run, Fancy,” Luna called from beyond the walls. “Don’t think, just run!”

The dim lights flickered as he ran through the hallway, faceless glimpses tormenting him from doorways, black tentacles waving at him from around corners. No matter where he turned, the thing was always waiting just on the peripheral of his vision, never letting him relax, always keeping him terrified! He never saw it move, it never jumped out of doorways. It was always standing perfectly still, save for those horrible tentacle-like tails that were always groping.

Fancy’s throat was dry, his heart pounding. Though he’d maintained his health in his civilian life, even he could only go so long, and this thing seemed tireless. He was slowing down, but it never caught him. Every time he thought he might be safe, he’d turn a corner and find it staring at him, beginning a new chase.

“Don’t quit,” Luna called, appearing in the hall ahead of him. She waved, eyes locked over his shoulder. “Come on, Fancy, we have to last until Fleur gets us out!”

Fleur. Damn that mare, why had he let her talk him into this?! “I’m trying,” he called, daring to glance back. He could see nothing, but by now he knew better than-

“Luna!” He slid to a halt, horrified to see the slender monstrosity directly behind her. She spun about, black tendrils just beginning to wrap about her, and flew through the ceiling with a shriek. The tails aimed upward and waved, as if lamenting a missed opportunity.

“Leave her alone, you bastard,” Fancy hissed between gasps. That faceless head lowered, and he felt a piercing, almost paralyzing terror. It was as if the thing were looking into his heart and squeezing the warmth from it. The howling intensified yet again, and Fancy turned into a nearby doorway and fled.

The race seemed endless. Fancy wished he knew what it was so he could think of some way to counter it! But no, he could only flee. Where was Luna?!

His legs locked as he slid across the floor, just managing to avoid hitting a wall. Dead end. After all that running, now he reached a dead end? He turned to double back, and froze; the thing was standing in his way. Nowhere left to run.

There was nothing to do but stand his ground. Fancy prepared himself for a fight, though his heart was hammering and his legs were shaking. What was wrong with him?! It was just a tall, faceless…pony! It was like a damn toothpick! He should be able to…

“Fancy,” Luna called from somewhere beyond the walls. “What are you doing? Run away!”

“I can’t,” he called, howling in his ears. “I’m trapped!”

That mouthless face tilted just a little. The world seemed to go darker as the tails expanded, stretched, began to reach…

Luna appeared, slamming to the ground before Fancy with horn glowing. She let out a furious shout and fired a black beam.

It hit the entity and fizzled. The creature didn’t so much as flinch.

“Luna, go!”

She grabbed Fancy and tried to flee, but he ended up pinned against the wall. “Fancy!”

He struggled against her hooves, black tentacles filling his vision. “Let me go, Luna! Save yourself!”

“Fleur!” Luna screamed as their world began to grow dark. “Fleur, you win! Let us out!”

The world went silent as a lone, icy tail caressed Fancy’s cheek.

Luna came to her hooves with a jerk and a gasp, staring ahead at…stairs?

She blinked, glancing around at the bright, pearly entry hall with its glistening marble floors and columns. She sucked in a deep breath, that white head still filling her vision. It had almost… Fancy. Where was Fancy?!

She heard a groan and turned to find him lying on his side. He rubbed his head and looked up at her with weary eyes. “L-Luna? What…”

She dove, wrapping him in a hug. “Thank the Moon, I thought that thing had you!”

“G-glad to see you’re okay, too,” he replied, losing his breath at her grip.

“Well now,” a familiar voice called, “I think that qualifies as a success.”

Luna released Fancy – who immediately gulped down air – and turned to find a familiar pair of ponies watching from the top of the stairs. Fleur de Lis and Fine Crime shared matching grins, and it made the Princess seethe with fresh fury. “Took long enough,” Fine added. “Everypony else already went crying home to their mommies.”

“You!” She stomped her way up the stairs, lips pulled back in a menacing sneer. “What were you thinking, using that?! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is, how-”

Her fury had been directed at Fleur, but Fine abruptly stood between them, a smug smile on his lips. “Now, now. Using the creature was my idea.”

Luna was shaking, she was so furious. “You. You of all ponies. You saw what it’s capable of! You’re the one who recommended we abandon the project!”

“And I also hold rights to its permissions,” he pointed out, not at all bothered by her vicious glare. “And, might I remind you, Fleur works for me.”

Luna lowered her head so their muzzled touched. “And you work for me! I should have you both fired and thrown in the castle dungeons!”

He tilted his head, but there was no fear in his eyes. Surprise, but not fear. “Did the illusion really scare you that badly?”

She grabbed him and gave a violent shake. “How were we to know it was an illusion?!”

“Princess!” She felt a hoof on her shoulder, and glanced back to see Fancy Pants. He gave her a charming smile, though it came out a little weak. “Please, did we not come here to be frightened? They challenged us, and we lost. Fleur?” The pink pony shot him a crooked smile. “Put me down as impressed. I will never doubt your abilities again.”

“I am pleased to hear it,” Fleur acknowledged with a polite nod.

“Do not act as if this were a small thing,” Luna cried. “Somepony could have died!”

Fine rubbed the side of his head with a grimace. “Remind me to make you another copy of the report I wrote on that thing. It’s not that unpredictable. But hey, it worked!”

Yes… It most certainly did. She considered him for several seconds, not appreciating his attitude one bit. But this was Fine Crime, the shadow of her will. Few ponies matched him in terms of responsibility. Given the grievous nature of this offense, she was not prepared to forgive him...yet she would wait. “I will read that report more carefully, this time,” she agreed, peering at him. “If I am unsatisfied, you will be hearing of this again.”

He bowed, abruptly becoming the epitome of respect. “As my Princess wills it, so it shall be.”

She nodded, satisfied with his more familiar manner. “I think that will conclude this evening’s events. I want nothing more to do with this Week of Nightmares, so I will be going. For now? Well played.” Her eyes shifted to Fleur, who had a hopeful, wide eyes. “Both of you.”

She turned away, just barely catching their shared grins out of the corner of her eye before marching down the stairs and for the exit. She could hear Fancy Pants talking to them, but didn’t bother to listen; she wanted nothing more than to go back to the castle and take a long shower! The image of that white head and menacing tentacles was still fresh in her mind, and it gave her shivers.

She made it outside, the exterior of the mansion still set with its Nightmare Night theme. She spread her wings and prepared to fly, but paused when she heard shouting. She turned to find Fancy Pants approaching at a gallop. “Oh, Fancy. I thought you were going to spend more time with them.”

He came to a stop and lifted a hoof. Once he had caught his breath, he asked, “You’re going home, already?”

“Of course,” she replied, fluffing her wings in agitation. “I need to find some way to get the images of this night out of my head.”

“I see,” he lowered his head, but his sorrow lasted only a moment. He looked up with a grin. “Can I see you again? Soon?”

She blinked and, for reasons she couldn’t fathom, blushed. “You want to…spend time with me?”

“Of course!” He nodded emphatically. “I told you before, I admire you! I… I want to be with you.” Now he was blushing, turning his head away and rubbing his leg.

The Princess considered him for several seconds. The idea was curiously appealing to her. Indeed, she was eager. She recalled his words from within the illusionary world, and couldn’t help smiling. “Why don’t you meet me at the palace gates tomorrow night?”

His eyes lit up. “You mean it?”

She nodded with a wide smile. “My treat. We’ll make a date of it.”

His eyebrows raised, and his face went red yet again. “A… A date? T-truly?”

That had not come out the way she’d intended. Not even close. She felt her cheeks burn at the prospect, but as she stared at him, and thought of how much she now knew…

“Yes, Fancy. A date.”

Author's Note

So this is my entry into Random Romance's October contest. In all honesty, I'm not pleased with the final product. But I'm running out of time (you won't hear me say that very often) and want to move on, so this will have to do.

This was another attempt at experimentation. I carefully selected what would happen, when, the order how, the word count, themes, yadda yadda. As usual, overplanning didn't work to well. Every time I try it, I find that I much prefer the swift, spur-of-the-moment way I usually do. Of course, this would have been much more smooth and effective if I hadn't lost my will. That happens when computer glitches delete 1/3 of your story when you're almost finished. So yeah, this was not the kind of work I usually do.

Oh well, maybe next month.